I-Primer (continued)

Once you have a URL name registered with a registrar, you point it to a nameserver. Ours are ns.nextwavehosting.net and ns2.nextwavehosting.net The nameserver (ns.nextwavehosting.net) tells the domain name server (run by the registrars) where the your site servers are. Our servers are on the East Coast near one of the Internet’s main junctions.
The amount you pay to host your site each month varies based on the size of your site (storage space) and the amount of data (bandwidth) that is called by visitors. We have different sized packages for different requirements. We quote the prices monthly but bill annually because we don’t want to charge more for billing administration.
Hosting a site is not the same as Internet access. We do not provide access. Access is widely available from dial-up modem or high-speed access like DSL and cable modems. Access is your physical connection to the internet- and even though it usually comes with an e-mail account, we strongly recommend that you use e-mail through your site, here’s why.
Suppose you access the Internet through the phone company- your e-mail might be john.doe@Ameritech.net, or through the cable company, where it would be john.doe@Dayton.rr.net. When you switch access, you lose that e-mail address, or if they go out of business like excite@home did, you may be stuck with no way to get your e-mail. You may be in hundreds or thousands of peoples address books- with a dead e-mail. Another reason not to use their e-mail address is because you are missing an opportunity to promote your web site. If you are John@Doe.com, people may go see what the latest offerings of The Doe Company are.
Once you own a domain name, you control your Internet destiny.
One of the most frequently asked questions is what do I do if I have AOL?
AOL is a wonderful online community and very easy to use. AOL provides value added access – they are your access provider to the Internet and add a proprietary community that is easy to understand and use. A little known fact is that the original interface was designed by Apple Computer and licensed to AOL- that may explain why it is so easy to use.